Evaluation Synthesis Analysis Application Comprehension Knowledge

Creating Evaluating Analyzing Applying Understanding Remembering

(Based on Pohl, 2000, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p.8)

Creating Generating new ideas, products, or ways of viewing things Designing, constructing, planning, producing, inventing Evaluating Justifying a decision or course of action Checking, hypothesizing, critiquing, experimenting, judging Analyzing Breaking information into parts to explore understandings and relationships Comparing, organizing, deconstructing, interrogating, finding Applying Using information in another familiar situation Implementing, carrying out, using, executing Understanding Explaining ideas or concepts Interpreting, summarizing, paraphrasing, classifying, explaining Remembering Generating new ideas, products, or ways of viewing things Designing, constructing, planning, producing, inventing.

(Fisher, 1998, Teaching Thinking)

 Questioning should be used purposefully to achieve welldefines goals.

Blooms Taxonomy is a classification of thinking organized by level of complexity. It gives teachers and students an opportunity to learn and practice a range of thinking and provides a simple structure for many different kinds of questions and thinking.

 The taxonomy involves all categories of questions.

Typically a teacher would vary the level of questions within a single lesson.

 Lower level questions are those at the

remembering, understanding and lower level application levels of the taxonomy.

Usually questions at the lower levels are

appropriate for: evaluating students preparation and Comprehension, diagnosing students strengths and Weaknesses, and reviewing and/or summarizing content.

 Higher level questions are those requiring complex

application, analysis, evaluation or creation skills.

Questions at higher levels of the taxonomy are

appropriate for: encouraging students to think more deeply and critically, problem solving, encouraging discussions, and stimulating students to seek information on their own.

 What happened after ...? How many ...? What is ...? Who was it that ...? Can you name ...? Find the definition of ...? Describe what happened after ...? Who spoke to ...? Which is true of false ...?

 Can you explain why ...? Can you write in your own words? How would you explain ...? Can you write a brief outline ...? What do you think could have happened next ...? Who do you think ...? What was the main idea ...? Can you clarify ...? Can you illustrate ...? Does everyone act in the way that ... does?
(Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 12)

 Do you know of another instance where ...? Can you group by characteristics such as ...? Which factors would you change if ...? What questions would you ask of ...? From the information given, can you develop a set of instruction about ...?
(Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 13)

 Which events could not have happened? If ... happened, what might the ending have been? How is ... similar to ...? What do you see as other possible outcomes? Why did ... Changes occur? Can you explain what must have happened when ...? What are some of the problems of ...? Can you explain what must have happened when ? What are some of the motives behind ? What was the turning point? What was the problem with ?
(Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 13)

Is there a better solution to ? Judge the value of What do you think about ? Can you defend your position about ? Do you think is a good or bad thing? How would you have handled ? What changes to would you recommend? Do you believe ? How would you feel if? How effective are ? What are the consequences ? What influence will have on our lives? What are the pros and cons of ? Why is of value? What are the alternatives? Who will gain & who will lose?
(Pohl, Learning to Think, Thinking to Learn, p. 14)

 Can you design a to ? Can you see a possible solution to ? If you had access to all resources, how would you deal with ? Why dont you devise your own way to ? What would happen if ? How many ways can you ? Can you create new and unusual uses for ? Can you develop a proposal which would ?